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- Ελληνικά
The President of the Republic Mr Nicos Christodoulides attended this morning a demonstration of operational capabilities of the National Guard (NF), which was held in the framework of the events for the 60th anniversary of its foundation, in the Zygios area.
After the demonstration of operational capabilities of the AF, the President of the Republic in his address said: "When we talk about defence issues, many words are unnecessary.
I am particularly proud of our National Guard. I am proud of the men and women of the National Guard, the officers, the reservists, the National Guardsmen, our conscripts, for all that they have done over the years to defend first and foremost the Republic of Cyprus.
As long as the continued illegal Turkish occupation exists, strengthening the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus is not only our priority, but a minimum obligation towards the Cypriot people.
At the same time, however, as a member state of the European Union (EU), as a member state that claims to have a specific voice and role in the EU, strengthening the NF is one of our most decisive objectives in order to achieve what we want together with our partners in the EU.
As Foreign Minister, I felt first-hand that without a strong defence, the foreign policy footprint is significantly smaller. I am particularly pleased with all the steps that have been taken in recent years.
I want to assure you today that we will continue and further strengthen our efforts to enhance the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus, a deterrent power that I strongly believe starts first and foremost with the personnel of the AF. All of you, our officers, our conscripts, our militiamen, our reservists.
It is for this reason that one of our first actions was to solve a problem that had been pending for many, many years, in the right effort of this country to create a semi-professional army, with the institution of Contract Soldiers, where we took bold decisions to face a challenge that also affected the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus, because we invested heavily in some new cadres, who, precisely because of the circumstances that existed, left the AF at the first opportunity.
I want to insist a little more on the European dimension, because it was our insistence, together with some other Member States, that led the President of the Commission to announce for the first time and proceed in the immediate future with the appointment of an EU Defence Commissioner. And if our large European family really wants to strengthen its international footprint, if it really wants to have a voice and a role in international affairs, it will have to strengthen its defence spending.
I am well aware that most of the member states (of the EU) are NATO member states. Certainly the Organisation is a partner, an ally in the effort to meet international challenges, but at the same time, if we as the EU want to look to the future with optimism, to claim the role we all talk about for a geopolitical Europe, we have to work collectively to strengthen the EU's defence.
I am glad that as the Republic of Cyprus we are cooperating with several EU Member States. I would like to mention first of all France, with whom we have the same approach in relation to this need of the EU, but at the same time we are working to strengthen our relations with the United States.
In fact, defence and security issues have brought us closer together, as have the challenges of the region. These challenges, which the Republic of Cyprus with its role - a role that touches on your role, the NF - is demonstrating in practice that it is part of the solution and not part of the problem.
In 1964, when the NF was established, its role was limited exclusively to defence matters. Today the role of the NF is clearly multifaceted, and I know this first-hand, because it is not limited to defence issues, but also extends to terrorism issues, to migration issues, to the great effort to create conditions of security and stability in the region.
Dear members of the National Guard, Mr. Chief, I am particularly proud as President of the Republic of Cyprus, and previously as Foreign Minister, when I visited the neighboring states, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and heard from my interlocutors the best about the level of our National Guard, the members of our National Guard.
I want to assure you today that, as I promised during the election, because I am the first to not forget my election promises, our goal is to reach 2 percent in spending in relation to the arms programs of the National Guard, not the budget of the Ministry of Defense, but the arms programs of our National Guard."
(PM/GC/EATH)
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